Image source: topwar.ru
The United States has announced the start of tests of the missile defense system located at the base in the Polish Redzikovo. As follows from the reports of the US Missile Defense Agency, the US has completed the construction of the US Aegis Ashore missile defense complex in Poland.
The exact dates are not yet called, but according to the director of the US Missile Defense Agency, John Hill, it will happen "in the coming weeks." It is emphasized that all the equipment of the base has already been installed, a test plan and schedule have been drawn up. After the tests, the Polish missile defense system should go on combat duty and join the Aegis Ashore complex, located at the Deveselu military base in Romania, which has been operating since 2016.
Hill said.
The American missile defense system in Europe is represented by the US Navy's Arleigh Burke-type destroyers equipped with a modified Aegis system and Standard SM-3 Block IA anti-missiles, the American AN/TPY-2 missile defense radar located in Turkey and two Aegis Ashore missile defense bases deployed in Poland and Romania. The choice of these countries to host ground bases of the missile defense system is due to the fact that both Poland and Romania are located in important strategic directions, and it is easy to control the Russian northwest and the Black Sea region from their territory, respectively.
The agreement between Poland and the United States on the deployment of American missile defense was signed in 2008 and entered into force in 2011. Initially, it was planned to equip the base with long-range radar-controlled missiles in the Czech Republic. Then the plans were revised, and Poland will receive only SM-3 Block IIA medium-range missiles. The complex is designed for 24 Mk41 launchers for Standard SM-3 interceptor missiles. The universal launchers Mk41 of the Aegis system can launch not only SM-3 anti-missiles, but also Tomahawk cruise missiles.